TO YOUR HEALTH
Weight Loss With Functional Medicine
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sure they are within healthy ranges: • Iron, ferritin level. This is often hidden, and an iron deficit leads to lack of oxygen in the cells since iron transports it to cells. This can be especially concerning for women during menstruation, when the loss of blood can be very high. Signs of a lack of iron include: tiredness, lost of hair, brittle nails, frequent headaches, feeling cold, feeling depressed, breathing difficulties, throat dryness, infertility, and neu - rological symptoms. • B-12. This vitamin plays an essential role in the production of your red blood cells and DNA, as well as the proper functioning of your nervous system. It is involved in transporting iron to the cells. Vita- min B-12 is naturally found in animal foods, including meats, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy; vegetarians should take supplements as a viable replacement. • Thyroid hormones. These need to be checked, as well as iodine. A simple application of topical iodine can indicate deficiency if it disap - pears within 24 hours. • Body biome balance. A healthy gut biome is important for carbo - hydrate metabolism. The right probiotics and prebiotics will help balance the gut flora and increase metabolism, key for fat burning and weight reduction. Acupuncture for Obesity The combinationof FunctionalMedicinewith acupuncture canbring fast and significant results when included in a weight loss treatment plan. For example, auricular points—pressure points on the ear—are particularly effective for appetite suppression. The use of acupuncture facilitates many additional benefits that support sustainable weight reduction, and offers relief from or eliminates many of the side effects that come with excessive weight on the body. These benefits include: • Increasing metabolism • Detoxifying and draining the lymph system • Increasing circulation in the pancreas, liver, hormonal glands such as thyroid, adrenals, sex hormones, pituitary and more • Balancing digestion • Decreasing/eliminating headaches, other pain • Decreasing stress, depression • Decreasing inflammation • Improving circulation There really is no straightforward, one-size-fits-all approach to ridding your body of excessive weight, but taking a holistic approach like the one used in Functional Medicine can be a strategy for treat - ing obesity and achieving successful and sustainable weight loss. Helena Amos, M.Ac., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist, Europe- an physician and Functional Medicine practitioner with more than 30 years of clinical experience combining the best of modern Func - tional Medicine with the ancient wisdom of Traditional Oriental Medicine. She is Founder/Owner of the Acupuncture and Natural Medicine Clinic in Rockville, MD, and is available for in-office and telehealth consultations. Visit rockvilleacupuncturemd.com/ for appointments and to sign up for her monthly health e-newsletters.
78—PATHWAYS—Summer 21
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